Multi-card device for telecommunications, and process for automatically managing telephone communications

ABSTRACT

A multi-card cellular telephone apparatus includes a central processing unit and a plurality of SIM cards connected to the central processing unit through slots. The plurality of SIM cards are selectively managed by the central processing unit employing an active time agenda that allows reading of an internal clock time and activating the SIM cards as a function of the assigned time range. A process is also disclosed for automatically managing multiple SIM cards.

The present invention refers to a telecommunications device adapted tooperate with a plurality of cards, and in particular to a cellulartelephone apparatus equipped with a plurality of cards of the “SIM card”type. The invention further refers to a process for automaticallymanaging multiple telephone communication items in a telephone device,in particular multiple SIMs in a cellular telephone device.

The cellular telephone apparata are known in the art and their verywidespreaded growing diffusion occurred simultaneously with theirtechnologic development so that they are enabled to perform anincreasing and more and more sophisticated number of functions.

Another parallel growth was the one of the providers of cellulartelephone services, both at national and international level, and atlocal level. Nowadays users have to deal with a high number of providersof connections and services, in order to be connected to which it isnecessary to purchase suitable customized telephone cards containing,first of all, the phone number assigned to the provider's user. In casea user wishes to change the type of providers according to the type ofphone call that he wishes to make, to the type of time range in whichsuch phone call occurs, or due to other reasons, he has to turn off hisown cellular phone, remove the previous provider's card and insert thenew card; then, he has to turn on again his phone, possibly keying-inaccess key-words and make the phone call. If it is necessary to carryout such operations frequently, this can become very disturbing andcumbersome to realize. Moreover, when there are different providersoffering different time rate conditions according to the period in whichthe phone call occurs, it is not at all practical to proceed withcontinuous manual replacements of cards and remember the most favourabletime rate situation according to the period.

Object of the present invention is solving the above prior-art problems,by providing a multi-card device, in particular a cellular telephoneapparatus for telecommunications that contains therein a plurality oftelephone cards with which it is able to selectively operate, upon theoperator's choice or in a completely automatized way according to thetime of the day in which the phone call occurs, without having everytime to place the involved card inside the cellular phone.

A further object of the present invention is providing a process forautomatically managing multiple telephone communication items thatallows exploiting a device of the above-described type in order tomanage a plurality of communication providers or carriers in general,and a plurality of SIMs in particular.

The present invention will be described with reference to cellulartelephone apparata, but obviously people skilled in the art willunderstand that it can be applied to any device that is suitable tooperate with different types of cards, by inserting them inside thedevice itself. Similarly, the present invention describes a process formanaging a plurality of SIMs, since these are the current technologicalway of performing cellular communications, but the process of theinvention can be equally applied to any type of communication involvingthe management of multiple items or members.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as willappear from the following description, are obtained by a multi-carddevice as claimed in claim 1 and by a process as claimed in claim 8.Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the presentinvention are claimed in the dependent claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferredembodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference tothe enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the multi-carddevice according to the present invention applied to a cellulartelephone apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cellular telephone apparatus inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a turning-on and first operation process ofthe device of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the management process for slots and cardsactivities in the device of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the time management process of anautomatically-activated agenda for the device of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-card device of the inventionis shown in its preferred embodiment, that is the one of a cellulartelephone apparatus (hereinbelow briefly called “cellular phone”) 1 of aknown type, composed of a support body 2 that can be manually grasped.Such support body 2 is equipped with a keypad 3 containing numeric keys5 to dial telephone numbers and functional keys 7 that perform variousfunctions, among which turning the cellular phone 1 on and off, etc. Thecellular phone 1 is then equipped, in a known way, with a display 9 anda communication antenna 11 of the fixed or removable type. As betterappears from FIG. 2, the cellular phone 1, preferably in its rear part,is equipped with a recess 13, adapted to be covered by a suitable cover15, inside which there are a plurality (in FIG. 2 there are 3 beingshown) of housings (the so-called “slots”) 16 each one adapted tocontain a card (not shown), in this case of the telephonic type, of aprovider of various types of telephone services. Such cards are usuallyof the intelligent type, that is they are equipped with a microprocessor(not shown) adapted to perform a certain number of functions pre-set bythe provider itself: such cards are commonly known with the name of “SIM(Subscriber Identity Module) cards” and as such they will be referred tohereinbelow in the present description.

The cellular phone 1 hereby summarizingly described, since it is knownin the art, is equipped inside with an integrated circuit board (notshown) comprising a central processing unit (or CPU) suitable, inaddition to performing the common functions for which such cellularphone 1 is adapted and that are known in the art, also to carry out thesimultaneous and parallel management of the above SIM cards housed inslots 16. Such management is configurated in a set of procedures, thatare respectively shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and that will be described indetail below.

In particular, FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a turning-on and firstoperation process of the device 1 of the invention.

The automatic activation process for SIM cards at turning-on includesthe steps of:

-   -   turning on (F1) the device 1;    -   should a specific management routing be missing, sequentially        scanning (F2) slots 16 and requesting a PIN (Personal        Identification Number) code for every detected SIM card,        operation that all SIM cards owners must perform to activate        their own cards;    -   checking (F3) whether the time agenda (that will be described        afterwards) is active, and in a positive case reading (F4) the        internal clock time and activating slots 16 as function of the        time range assigned in the time agenda itself;    -   checking (F5) whether there are customized priorities for slots        16, and in a positive case activating (F6) the slot 16 whose        priority is highest;    -   sequentially scanning (F7) slots 16 with the obtained PIN code        and activating the first slot being found with a chip card; and    -   activating (F8) the usual functions of the device 1 (for example        the normal functions of the cellular phone 1) with the first        activated slot.

The management process of slots and cards activities in the device 1 ofthe invention will now be described with reference to the flow diagramin FIG. 4.

The management process for parallel activities in slots 16 and SIM cardsin FIG. 4 comprises the steps of:

-   -   accessing (F10) the slots and SIM cards activities management        menu;    -   if an automatic choice is present (F11), automatically scanning        (F12) the busy slots 16, and choosing and activating the slots        16 as function of signal power, in case of conflict applying the        priorities assigned to slots 16 (in a customized way or by        default); then, deactivating (F13) the priority of slots 16 and        deactivating (F14) the time agenda, going back to the starting        menu (F10);    -   should an automatic choice be absent (F11), checking (F15)        whether the current provider variation is requested;    -   in case of a request to change the current provider (F15),        keying-in (F16) the slot 16 position to be activated        independently from the assigned priorities, activating (F17) the        keyed-in slot 16, deactivating (F13) the slots 16 priority and        deactivating (F14) the time agenda, going then back to the menu        (F10);    -   in case of lack of a variation request for the current provider        (F15), checking (F18) the existence of a customized priority for        slots 16;    -   if a customized priority is present for slots 16 (F18),        performing possible setting modifications (F19) (for example,        after having keyed-in the slot number, confirming or keying-in        the new assigned priority (F20)) and activating (F22) the        customized priority for slots 16, going then back to the        starting menu (F10);    -   in case of lack of a customized priority for slots 16 (F18),        deactivating the customized priority for slots 16;    -   checking (F23) the activation of the automatic time agenda;    -   in case of lack of activation of the automatic time agenda        (F23), deactivating the time agenda (F26) and going back to the        starting menu (F10);    -   in case of activation of the automatic time agenda (F23),        performing possible modifications (F24) (for example, after        having keyed-in the slot number, confirming or keying-in the        activation start time (F25)) and activating (F28) the time        agenda, finally going back to the starting menu (F10).

In addition to these steps, before activating the time agenda (F28), astep (F27) for a confirmation request before activating a new slot 16can be provided, possibly emitting a sound signal if the activation isof the automatic type.

Finally the time management of an automatic activation agenda for thedevice 1 of the invention will now be described with reference to theflow diagram in FIG. 5.

Scope of the automatic activation process of the slots 16 according totime information in FIG. 5 is making a time agenda active that operatesunder the same principle of electronic agendas. In fact, an “alarm”signal is provided at the pre-fixed time, which triggers the activationmini-procedure of the programmed slot 16.

A variation increasing the potentialities of such agenda provides addingthe day-of-the-week parameter.

Hereinbelow an example is shown about a cellular phone 1 on which twoSIM cards are installed, one of which is of the company type or anywaylinked to the professional activity (Slot 1), while the other one ofwhich is of the personal type (Slot 2). A programming example of thetime agenda as function of these two SIM cards is shown in the followingTable 1.

TABLE 1 Activation time Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3 . . . Slot n Monday 8.3018.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Tuesday 8.30 18.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Wednesday 8.3018.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Thursday 8.30 18.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Friday 8.3018.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Saturday 8.30 12.30 n.a. . . . n.a. Sunday --:----:-- n.a. . . . n.a.

As clearly appears from the above Table, in any case the personal card(Slot 2) will remain active from Saturday at 0:30 p.m. to Monday at 8:29a.m.

The process in FIG. 5 comprises the steps of:

-   -   receiving (F40) a signal from the agenda, where such signal        comprises for example day of the week and time;    -   checking (F41) the presence of a current connection and, in case        of lack of connection, waiting (F42) till the connection is        performed;    -   checking (F43) whether a sound signal emission parameter is        active and emitting (F44) the sound signal if the result is        positive;    -   checking (F45) whether a confirmation request parameter is        active, and if the result is negative activating (F47) a new        slot 16;    -   in case the confirmation request parameter is active, checking        (F46) whether activating a new slot 16 and activating (F47) the        new slot 16 if the result is positive;    -   performing (F48) the usual functions of the device 1, like for        example the usual functions of a cellular phone 1.

The above-described cellular phone 1 also allows, in a non-limiting way,performing a process for automatically managing telephone communicationsthat is another characteristic of the present invention, and that willbe described below in detail. The inventive process allows automaticallymanaging telephone communications in a telephone device, in particularcellular telephone communications in a cellular telephone device that isable to manage a plurality of SIMs; the process comprises the steps of:

-   -   sequentially scanning for the presence of SIMs in this device        and requesting a PIN code for every detected SIM;    -   optionally scanning at international roaming level for the        presence of local SIMs in the device and requesting a PIN code        for every detected local SIM;    -   in case a local SIM at international roaming level is present,        activating this local SIM and activating usual functions of the        device with the activated local SIM;    -   in case a local SIM at international roaming level is not        present, activating the first detected SIM and activating usual        functions of the device with this activated SIM;    -   checking for the presence of an active time agenda in the        device; and    -   in case an active time agenda is present, reading an internal        clock time and activating every detected SIM as function of a        time range assigned to the SIM.

The above-mentioned process can further comprise, when a telephone callis made from the device, the steps of:

-   -   recognising a provider from an identification code (for example,        the prefix) of the number of the call being made; and    -   if a SIM belonging to the recognised provider is present in the        device, activating this SIM for the call.

The above steps of optionally scanning and recognising are performedonly if an enabling control flag therefor is set for this purpose in thedevice.

The inventive process can further comprise a parallel activitiesmanagement process for the SIMs, where this parallel activitiesmanagement process comprises the steps of:

-   -   accessing a SIM activities management menu;    -   if an automatic choice is present, automatically scanning the        detected SIMs, and choosing and activating the SIMs as function        of signal power, in case of conflict applying the priorities        assigned to the SIMs, deactivating the priority of the SIMs and        deactivating the time agenda;    -   should an automatic choice be absent, checking whether the        current provider variation is requested;    -   in case of a request to change the current provider, keying-in        the SIM to be activated independently from assigned priorities,        activating the keyed-in SIM, deactivating the priority of the        SIMs and deactivating the time agenda;    -   in case of lack of a variation request for the current provider,        checking the existence of a customized priority for the SIMs;    -   if a customized priority is present for the SIMs, performing        possible setting modifications and activating the customized        priority for the SIMs;    -   in case of lack of a customized priority for the SIMs,        deactivating the customized priority for the SIMs;    -   checking the activation of the automatic time agenda;    -   in case of lack of activation of the automatic time agenda,        deactivating the time agenda;    -   in case of activation of the automatic time agenda, performing        possible modifications and activating the time agenda.

Moreover, the inventive process can comprise, before the activating stepof the time agenda, the step of activation confirmation requesting for anew slot and emmitting a sound signal if this is an automaticactivation, and can further comprise an automatic activation process forthe SIMs according to time information.

In particular, this automatic activation process of the SIMs accordingto time information comprises the steps of:

-   -   receiving a signal from the agenda;    -   checking the presence of a current connection and, in case of        lack of connection, waiting till the connection is performed;    -   checking whether a sound signal emission parameter is active and        emitting the sound signal if the result is positive;    -   checking whether a confirmation request parameter is active, and        if the result is negative-activating a new SIM;    -   in case the confirmation request parameter is active, checking        whether activating a new SIM and activating the new SIM if the        result is positive;    -   performing the usual functions of the device.

1. Multi-card device for telecommunications, comprising: a centralprocessing unit; a plurality of SIM cards connected to said centralprocessing unit and selectively managed by said central processing unit;a plurality of slots configured to house said plurality of SIM cards;displaying means and key input means, respectively to display and chooseoperating functions to be activated; wherein said central processingunit is configured to perform an automatic activation process for saidSIM cards upon turning-on, said automatic activation process of said SIMcards upon turning-on including: turning on said device; sequentiallyfirst scanning said slots and requesting a PIN code for every detectedSIM card; sequentially second scanning said slots with the obtained PINcode and activating a first slot found with a chip card; and activatingusual functions of said device with said first activated slot; andfurther including, after said first scanning: checking for a presence ofan active time agenda; and in a case an active time agenda is present,reading an internal clock time and activating the slots as function ofan assigned time range.
 2. Multi-card device according to claim 1,wherein said process further comprises, after said first scanning:checking for a presence of customized priorities for said slots; and ina case of detecting the presence of customized priorities for saidslots, activating the slot whose priority is highest.
 3. Multi-carddevice according to claim 1, wherein said central processing unit isfurther configured to perform a parallel activities management processfor said slots and said SIM cards.
 4. Multi-card device according toclaim 3, wherein said parallel activities management process for saidslots and said SIM cards includes: accessing the slots and a SIM cardsactivities management menu; if an automatic choice is present,automatically scanning busy slots, and choosing and activating saidslots as a function of signal power, in a case of conflict applying thepriorities assigned to said slots, deactivating the priority of saidslots, and deactivating the active time agenda; if an automatic choiceis absent, checking whether a current provider variation is requested;in a case of a request to change the current provider, keying-in theslot position to be activated independently from assigned priorities,activating the keyed-in slot, deactivating the priority of said slots,and deactivating the active time agenda; in a case of a lack of avariation request for the current provider, checking for an existence ofa customized priority for said slots; if a customized priority ispresent for said slots, performing possible setting modifications andactivating the customized priority for said slots; in a case of a lackof a customized priority for said slots, deactivating the customizedpriority for said slots; checking the activation of the active timeagenda; in a case of a lack of activation of the active time agenda,deactivating the active time agenda; in a case of an activation of theactive time agenda, performing possible modifications and activating theactive time agenda.
 5. Multi-card device according to claim 4, furthercomprising: before the activating of the active time agenda, activationconfirmation requesting for a new slot and emitting a sound signal ifthis is an automatic activation.
 6. Multi-card device according to claim1, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to performan automatic activation process for said slots according to timeinformation.
 7. Multi-card device according to claim 6, wherein saidautomatic activation process of said slots according to time informationincludes: receiving a signal from the active time agenda; checking for apresence of a current connection and, in a case of a lack of the currentconnection, waiting until the current connection is performed; checkingwhether a sound signal emission parameter is active and emitting a soundsignal if the sound signal emission parameter is active; checkingwhether a confirmation request parameter is active, and if theconfirmation request parameter is not active activating a new slot; in acase the confirmation request parameter is active, checking whetheractivating a new slot and activating the new slot if a result ispositive; performing usual functions of said device.
 8. Process forautomatically managing multiple telephone communication items in atelephone device, comprising: sequentially scanning for a presence ofSIMs in said device and requesting a PIN code for every detected SIM;optionally scanning at an international roaming level for a presence oflocal SIMs in said device and requesting a PIN code for every detectedlocal SIM; in a case a local SIM at the international roaming level ispresent, activating said local SIM and activating usual functions ofsaid device with said activated local SIM; in a case a local SIM at theinternational roaming level is not present, activating the firstdetected SIM and activating usual functions of said device with saidactivated SIM; checking for a presence of an active time agenda in saiddevice; and in a case an active time agenda is present, reading aninternal clock time and activating every detected SIM as a function of atime range assigned to said SIM.
 9. Process according to claim 8,further comprising, when a telephone call is made from said device:recognizing a provider from an identification code of a number of thetelephone call being made; and if a SIM belonging to the recognizedprovider is present in said device, activating said SIM for the call.10. Process according to claim 8, wherein said optionally scanning andrecognizing are performed if an enabling control flag therefor is set.11. Process according to claim 8, further comprising a parallelactivities management process for said SIMs, said parallel activitiesmanagement process comprising: accessing a SIM activities managementmenu; if an automatic choice is present, automatically scanning thedetected SIMs, and choosing and activating said SIMs as a function ofsignal power, in a case of a conflict applying priorities assigned tosaid SIMs, deactivating the priorities of said SIMs, and deactivatingthe active time agenda; should an automatic choice be absent, checkingwhether a current provider variation is requested; in a case of arequest to change the current provider, keying-in the SIM to beactivated independently from assigned priorities, activating thekeyed-in SIM, deactivating the priority of said SIMs, and deactivatingthe active time agenda; in a case of a lack of a variation request forthe current provider, checking for an existence of a customized priorityfor said SIMs; if a customized priority is present for said SIMs,performing possible setting modifications and activating the customizedpriority for said SIMs; in a case of a lack of a customized priority forsaid SIMs, deactivating the customized priority for said SIMs; checkingfor an activation of the active time agenda; in a case of a lack ofactivation of the active time agenda, deactivating the active timeagenda; in a case of activation of the active time agenda, performingpossible modifications and activating the active time agenda. 12.Process according to claim 11, further comprising, before the activatingof the active time agenda, activation confirmation requesting for a newslot and emitting a sound signal if this is an automatic activation. 13.Process according to claim 8, further comprising an automatic activationprocess for said SIMs according to time information.
 14. Processaccording to claim 13, wherein said automatic activation process of saidSIMs according to time information comprises: receiving a signal fromthe active time agenda; checking for a presence of a current connectionand, in a case of a lack of the current connection, waiting until thecurrent connection is performed; checking whether a sound signalemission parameter is active and emitting the sound signal if the soundsignal emission parameter is active; checking whether a confirmationrequest parameter is active, and if the confirmation request parameteris not active activating a new SIM; in a case the confirmation requestparameter is active, checking whether activating a new SIM andactivating the new SIM if a result is positive; performing usualfunctions of said device.